Foes seek Libya-like uprising in Venezuela: Chavez

Caracas: President Hugo Chavez accused his political opponents on Sunday of trying to divide the military as part of a broader plan aimed at spurring a Libya-like uprising in Venezuela following next year`s Presidential Election.

Chavez said such a conflict would give Washington a justification to lead a military invasion of Venezuela.

"They want to divide the armed forces," said Chavez, referring to Venezuela`s opposition. "The Yankee empire, the CIA and the State Department is behind them."

"The empire has a plan that has worked in Libya," he said during his weekly television and radio program. Chavez commonly refers to the United States as "the empire”.

Venezuela`s opposition leaders deny conspiring to topple Chavez by provoking a military coup attempt, saying they plan to unseat the former paratroop commander-turned-president at the ballot box in December 2012.

"He sounds like a broken record," Ramos said in a telephone interview. "Chavez feels the possibility of losing in 2012."

US officials have also rejected Chavez`s repeated accusations of coup plotting.

Chavez, a friend and ally of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, lambasted US and European leaders for forging business ties with Libya in recent years only to turn their backs on Libya`s leader after the popular uprising aimed at forcing his ouster began over three weeks ago.

"Now he`s the biggest monster in the world," he said.

"I`m not like that," Chavez added, noting that he has refused to condemn Gaddafi`s actions like other leaders across the globe.

Chavez has accused Washington and its allies of manoeuvring to seize control of Libya`s oil.

The Arab League asked the UN Security Council on Saturday to impose a no-fly zone. But the US and many of its allies have expressed deep reservations about a tactic that would require them to destroy Gaddafi`s air defences and possibly shoot down his planes.

Libya`s rebel forces have asked for a no-fly zone, but foreign nations seem reluctant to impose such a measure.

Chavez warned on Sunday that international oil prices would quickly top USD 200 if NATO and US forces invade the North African country.